FBI to be under harsh new microscope as Stefanik scores victory in annual defense bill

By Fox News · Fox News

A Republican-backed measure in this year's annual defense policy bill is aimed at significantly expanding FBI transparency in American elections. A provision in the 3,000-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would force the bureau to disclose the initiation of a "counterintelligence assessment or investigation" against a candidate for federal office or a current elected official within 15 days of its launch. Specifically, it would mandate that the FBI notify the top four congressional leaders in the House and Senate as well as the top Republican and top Democrat on both chambers' judiciary and intelligence committees. An exception would be granted if one of those people was the target of such a probe, however. PATEL SAYS COMEY CASE IS 'FAR FROM OVER,' VOWS TO RESTORE 'ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY' TO FBI The provision was spearheaded by House GOP Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who told Fox News Digital on Monday that it was "a win that I am proud to deliver for transparency and accountability and against the illegal weaponization of the deep state." "I am the only remaining House Republican who served on the House Intelligence Committee during the dark Schiff impeachment era," Stefanik said. "Congress owes the American people long overdue accountability after the unprecedented illegal weaponization of our federal government, whether it was the illegal Crossfire Hurricane targeting of President Trump in 2016 or more recently the sweeping Operation Arctic Frost." FBI FIRES AGENTS, DISMANTLES CORRUPTION SQUAD AFTER PROBE UNVEILS MONITORING OF GOP SENATORS, PATEL SAYS The measure is also backed by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan , R-Ohio. A Jordan spokesman told Fox News Digital that the conservative leader has "always been 100% supportive of this provision." Its inclusion came after some fireworks between Stefanik and Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., last week. Stefanik had publicly accused the speaker of kowtowing to Democrats and allowin…